Month: October 2018

Pollution-control measures during Durga Puja immersion

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To prevent pollution of river water, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to set up a boundary with nylon nets around certain zones along the Hooghly river where immersions of Durga idols would take place.

The nets would prevent the idols and decorations from floating away, which would then be picked up by cranes employed by the KMC.

This technique will be used at the immersion points of Baje Kadamtala Ghat, Judges Court Ghat and Nimtala Ghat. The first one is where most of the big Pujas conduct their immersions.

Source: Aajkaal

Tourism promotion in housing complexes during Durga Puja

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Bengalis are known for their penchant for food and travel. So, what better time to promote the tourist spots in Bengal, than the four days of Durga Pujo? With this thought in mind, the State Tourism Department has come up with an innovative idea.

To cater to tourists in Kolkata, the State Tourism Department has decided to go for direct promotion in housing complexes. Twenty-six of the big housing complexes have been selected for the purpose.

The promotion would be in the form of banners and hoardings. Some of the complexes, which play host to a large number of people, would also be visited by Tourism Department officials.

A similar plan is being made for the big puja pandals, where lakhs of people converge on each of the festival days.

Source: Bartaman

Homestay tourism boom in Dooars during festive season

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The homestay facilities in Dooars region are all booked to full for the festive season. This is a huge shot in the arm for the Bangla Government, led by Mamata Banerjee, who has been working tirelessly for the last seven years to project the state as an ideal tourist destination.

All the homestay cottages in Lataguri and Dhupjhora region in Jalpaiguri district, and the hamlets in Kalimpong district, have full booking for the festive period. The homestay owners and tour operators have expressed their happiness over this development.

Lataguri and Dhupjhora are extremely popular tourist destinations. Every year during Durga Puja, tourists throng these places. Additionally, several new homestay facilities have opened near Jaldhaka and Gorubathan. The natural beauty of these places is too alluring for tourists to ignore.

In the last two-three years, there has been a considerable rise in the number of homestay facilities in the State. The government has also come up with a new homestay tourism policy. This has led to a tourism boom for north Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee expresses concern over incidents of violence in Gujarat

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Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed her concern regarding recent incidents of violence in Gujarat. She said that as per normal legal procedure, the police must take action against culprits. However, she wondered why more than 370 people were arrested in Gujarat.

The CM was speaking to reporter at Nabanna. She said that in India people from all backgrounds coexist in harmony. People from Bihar reside in Bengal, people from Bengal reside in Madhya Pradesh, and people from Rajasthan reside in Bengal. This is our culture, she said.

The Chief Minister alleged that whatever that is happening in Gujarat is pre-planned. “People are living in fear. They are fleeing from Gujarat. People from other States living in Gujarat for years consider themselves a resident of that State. Those from Bihar, staying in Bengal, consider themselves to be Bengalis. The trend in Gujarat is bad and the situation is alarming,” she commented.

The Bengal Chief Minister said that wherever the BJP is in power, they are trying to create a division among the people. They are trying to create confusion and communal tension in places where people are living in peace, she added.

“The condition of the BJP-ruled States is dangerous. I am worried about what is happening in Gujarat,” the CM said. She added if the country is divided on caste lines, it will weaken the nation. If everybody stays united, the nation will become stronger.”

State Transport Dept to run 500 extra buses daily during Durga Puja

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The State Government has decided to run extra buses during Durga Puja for the convenience of commuters. Nearly 500 extra buses will be run daily during the festive season. Enough buses will be made available to commuters from afternoon till evening in Kolkata and suburbs. Even the night bus service will be augmented.

The State Transport Department will run 1200 buses daily from Chaturthi till Nabami. A control room will also be set up to help commuters in distress. Apart from metro and railway stations, shuttle services will be set up at major intersections of the city.

Shuttle services will be run on Garia-Gariahat, Howrah-Sealdah, Shyambazar-Barrackpore, Karunamoyee-Sealdah, Tollygunge-Thakurpukur, Tollygunge-Behala routes, among others. Trams will be run at night too.

It may be mentioned that the department has launched a special ‘all day ticket’ for commuters for the festive season. Valid for 24 hours, this ticket will enable commuters to undertale any number of rides on buses, trams, vessels that day from Barrackpore-Barasat in the north to Thakurpurkur-Baruipur in the south and Newtown in the east till Howrah in the west. Tickets will be valid on vessel rides between Ariadaha to Millennium Park jetties.

Special ration package for the festive season

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The State Food & Supplies Department has come up with a special ration package for the festive season. This special package would include edible oil, maida, and sugar.

The beneficiaries of Antyodaya and Special Priority (SPPH) under National Food Security Act (NFSA) will receive these ration packages. The total number of eligible beneficiaries would be nearly 3 crore.

Every eligible family will be entitled to receive 500 g sugar and 500 g maida twice during the festive period at Rs 30 and Rs 23 respectively. 500 ml and 1 litre of kachhi ghani mustard oil will be available at Rs 52 and Rs 101 respectively. Equivalent amount of palm oil will be available at Rs 48.50 and Rs 94 respectively.

The prices of these items have been subsidised by the state government. It may be mentioned that the government gives such a ration package during Eid too.

 

Traditional fish items during Durga Puja at SFDC restaurants

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Like every year, this year too, the State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC) will be serving special dishes at its five restaurants in Kolkata during Durga Puja.

The five are located at Nalban Food Park, Nabanna, Eco Park, Bidhan Sishu Udyan in Ultadanga and in front of Nicco Park. The food will be served in bell metal (kansa) or terracotta plates.

This year, the highlight will be fish items associated with the famous traditional pujas of zamindars of Kolkata and temple pujas of other places in Bangla.

The organisation is finalising the menu in consultation with the descendents of Sovabazar Rajbari, Sabarna Roy Choudhury Rajbari and other famous rajbaris of Kolkata. With respect to the temple pujas, one will be able to relish the magur macher tok of Sarbamangala Temple in Bardhaman and shol pora of Kanakdurga Shrine at Chilkagarh in Jhargram, among others.

The bhogs served at some of the traditional pujas of Kolkata will also be an integral part of the menu.

People will be able to try out boroli, the famous delicious fish from the streams of north Bengal, now being cultivated by the SFDC in three large waterbodies in Kolkata and Memari, and groupers and Indian pompano, also being cultivated by it in the last few months.

There will be a discount of 7 per cent in the thali items and on ordering over the online delivery app, Smart Fish (during the Puja days).

The SFDC will also set up stalls at the premises of 23 famous Durga Pujas in Kolkata, including Singhi Park, Hazra Park, Kalighat Milan Sangha and Hindustan Park in south Kolkata, and Jagat Mukherjee Park, Sovabazar, Tala Sarbajanin and Nalin Sarkar Street in north Kolkata.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Durga Puja: Cold storage network coming as a boon for lotus cultivators

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The chain of cold storages built by the State Government over the last few years is coming as a help for Durga Puja too. Flower traders and cultivators from across the State are finding them very convenient for storing lotus flowers, which are a very important part of Durga Puja.

In fact, 50 lakh lotus flowers are going to be supplied to puja organisers, by a lakh of cultivators. To ensure no shortage, it is quite essential to start storing them weeks ahead of the Puja.

For Durga Puja, lotuses also get exported to other States, and for this reason too the cold storages are coming as a boon. The demand for lotuses from the State remains high across the country as the flowers are of a superior quality.

In recent times, multipurpose cold storages have been set up at Bagnan in Howrah district and at Panskura in Purba Medinipur, the two places which are the major flower producing regions in Bangla.

According to a senior official of the State Government, steps are being taken to further develop infrastructure to support flower cultivators.

Source: Millennium Post

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Special arrangements for foreign tourists this Durga Puja

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The State Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs (I&C) Departments will be jointly making special arrangements for the foreign tourists who will be visiting Kolkata to soak in the spirit of Durga Puja.

They will work with the organisers of major Durga Pujas to create special ‘green channels’, so that the foreign tourists can reach the pandals without facing any traffic congestion. This is the first time that the State Government will be taking such an initiative.

Another joint initiative being taken this year will be taking foreign tourists on tours of the major Puja pandals in and around Kolkata.

The main idea behind this is to make them experience the tradition and the real essence of Durga Puja. So for example, if they visit a pandal on Ashtami afternoon, they can be a part of the bhog-eating ceremony, or if they visit on Navami evening, then they can witness the Sandhya Aarti.

Every year, tourists from different parts of the world visit Bengal during Durga Puja. For the last few years, the Red Road Carnival, a concept of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has also made it to their must-do lists. According to her announcement earlier this year, 75 Puja committees will be taking part in the carnival this year, on October 23, up from 55 in 2017.

Source: Millennium Post

Kolkata Police unveils guidemap for Durga Puja 2018

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Kolkata Police has planned to come up with live streaming of some major puja pandals throughout the city, during this year’s Durga Puja. Live information about 1,800 puja pandals will also be available from the ‘Bandhu’ app.

Apart from ‘Bandhu’, people can also track waiting time and queues from the ‘Utsav’ app. On Thursday, Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar unveiled the guidemap for Durga Puja 2018. A statistical data of road accidents was also published during the programme. The CP informed that a large number of people had been using the puja guidemap for the last few years. Every year, the number of guidemap users is increasing.

As of October 3, the number of ‘Bandhu’ app users has crossed 2.5 lakh. This year, people can monitor live information about almost 1,800 puja pandals throughout the city. The CP also informed that they have a plan to transmit live streaming from selected puja pandals of the city.

Apart from ‘Bandhu’, another app called ‘Utsav’ was also introduced a few years ago for Durga Puja. Kolkata Police has also informed that the ‘Utsav’ app has now been upgraded with some new features. Through this app, people can easily track the locations of the pandals and can find the ways to reach them.

Also, a new section has been added in the app for the puja committees. From now on, puja committees will be able to upload details of their pandals such as theme, attraction details, images and many more on the app. This would help them to attract more pandal hoppers.